Photos: Female Olympians break new ground at 2012 Games

Multiple exposures are combined to form this image of Germany's Carolin Golubytskyi competing against Italy's Elisa Di Francisca in the Women's Foil Individual Fencing round inside ExCeL on July 28 during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Francisca, the 2010 world champion, went on to nab the gold medal after beating her fellow Italian teammate, Arianna Errigo, in the final.

For the first time in Olympic history, 45 percent of the 10,800 athletes currently competing in London are women, and every nation has at least one female athlete representing them. Women outnumber male athletes 269 to 261 on the U.S. team, and Russia's team also has a female majority.

* * *

Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

No longer second best

Marianne Vos of Netherlands (left) celebrates as she crosses the finish line ahead of Elizabeth Armitstead of Great Britain (right) to win the gold medal for the women's cycling road race on July 29 in London.

The win was especially sweet for Vos, who has been stuck in the runner-up position for the past five road race World Championships after coming in first in 2006.

* * *

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Defying gravity

Ashleigh Brennan of Australia spots the balance beam while competing in the Olympic qualification rounds of women's gymnastics on July 29 inside the North Greenwich Arena in London.

Along with fellow Aussie Emily Little, Brennan will move on to the gymnastics all-around individual final scheduled for Thursday.

* * *

Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Breaking a world record

Dana Vollmer (right) of the United States celebrates with teammate Claire Donahue after winning a gold medal and setting a new world record time of 55.98 seconds in the women's 100-meter butterfly final on July 29 inside London's Aquatics Centre.